The Last List of Mabel Beaumont: The unforgettable book everyone is talking about in 2023

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Eighty-six-year-old Mabel has just lost Arthur, her husband of sixty-two years. He loved lists, and while she is clearing his belongings, she discovers one last list by him. This has just a single item on it: “Find D”. Mabel understands that Arthur wants her to locate Dot, her estranged best friend whom she hasn’t seen since before her wedding. Is Dot still alive? Mabel is determined to find out. Without meaning to do so, Mabel finds a new set of friends who are willing to help her on her quest. Each friend is battling their own personal issue, and Mabel’s search ends up becoming a life-changing journey for all of them. The Piano Tuner” by Chiang-Sheng Kuo – Book Review #NovNov23 @skyhorsepub @arcadepub #ThePianoTuner#BookReview November 28, 2023 Arthur was always the list maker but Mabel made her own task list to accomplish. Despite her age, her judgement seemed rather questionable at times although the decisions were made with good intent and I did worry at what the outcomes would be.

What a beautifully written and heartwarming story about love, aging, friendships, self-discovery, loss, grief, loneliness, regrets and second chances. Most of all, it relates to having the courage to make a change and becoming the person you were always meant to be despite expectations of society. I absolutely loved this book so much!! The characters were so real and relatable and I was so emotionally invested. I could just picture myself spending time with this amazing group of women. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not stop reading! ALL the emotions!! 💙💙💙💙 Thirty Days of Darkness” by Jenny Lund Madsen – Book Review @OrendaBooks @JennyLundMadsen #ThirtyDaysOfDarkness #BookReview @edelweiss_squad @meganeturney November 26, 2023 I wondered where this book would take the reader. What developed was a poignant story of love, lost love, heartbreak and finding true love again. No not, a soppy romance but a story of a woman who has denied here feelings for so long she wonders if she will ever feel again. But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’. In a Nutshell: A heartwarming story about friendship and love and accepting oneself. Interesting characters, though some of them could have been benefitted with more depth and less predictability.At the age of eighty-six, Mabel Beaumont loses Arthur, her husband of over sixty years. Mabel is a quiet and reserved individual and her husband was the one who was relatively more outgoing and expressive and also fond of making lists. As Mabel grapples with her loss, she finds her husband’s unfinished list with an item “Find D” on it. Mabel believes Arthur meant to find Dot, once Mabel’s best friend and her deceased older brother’s love interest. After Bill’s sudden demise and Mabel’s engagement to Arthur over sixty years ago, Dot disappeared from their lives. Mabel embarks on a quest to find Dot and finds a kindly and supportive group of people who are intent to help her – Julie, the new caregiver Arthur had arranged for her; Kristy a kindly neighbor and new mother in her thirties; Patty, a dance instructor in her seventies and Erin, a sixteen-year-old girl who Mabel meets in her local grocery store. For someone who has mostly kept to herself all her adult life, Mabel finds herself increasingly involved in the lives of her new friends, adding more items to her (Arthur’s which she expands upon) list and reflecting on people and events from her past – the people she loved and lost, her regrets and secrets about herself she has never been able to share with anyone. Mabel's quest for Dot and her plans to help her friends, (though efforts don’t always produce the desired results), each of whom is struggling with personal problems, gives Mabel a sense of purpose, in turn inspiring her to approach her own life from a fresh perspective. Eighty six year-old Mabel and 89-year-old Arthur have been married for more than sixty years. He’s all about moving forward, trying new things and loves a list, whereas she is about quiet contemplation and reflection. The couple are the proverbial chalk and cheese. Now Arthur has suddenly gone and it’s just her and what will she do without him? The final entry on Arthur’s last list says “Find D“. Does he mean Dot, a good friend who drops off the radar who Mabel hasn’t seen for 62 years? After some understandable wallowing due to his loss, she gives herself a metaphorical shake and makes a list of her own, five things which includes “find D“. Though this task seems impossible with the help of new found friends, Mabel is determined to try. Gorgeous... Tender and beautiful... As hopeful as it is heart-breaking... I loved it.' Amy Beashel, author

THE AUTHOR: Laura Pearson has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester. She lives in Leicestershire with her husband and their two children.

Featured Reviews

Mabel begins reaching out to others, opening up her formerly closed off life. Mabel learns to explore new things, something she refused to do for much of her marriage. She also realizes that she isolated herself, and she begins the process of reaching out and making friends. The women she brings into her life range greatly in ages and experiences, and all have their own troubles. All the women, including Mabel, gain tremendously from their new relationships with each other.

Such a poignant story. Brought a lump to my throat... Will really appeal to fans of Joanna Cannon.' Karen Angelico, author Mabel is not your most pleasant person and Arthur is such a kind soul. They have been together for 62 years and when Arthur suddenly dies, Mabel is left alone. She isn’t what you call a lover of life – not like Arthur. In fact, I wondered why they married at all. Going through Arthur’s lists (he is a list maker), Mabel discovers a notation ‘Find D’. This discovery marks the beginning of a new life for Mabel outside her comfort zone. A mystery to solve, making unlikely friends and doing things she has never done before.

Mabel and Arthur have been married for sixty-two years and have never had children. He loved making lists and would leave them for her to find. Suddenly, Arthur passes away and Mabel doesn't know what she will do without him. Then she finds his last list he must have left for her. It had only one thing listed which was to Find D. What or who is D?? Mabel is convinced he meant her best friend, Dot. The problem is that Mabel has not spoken to or seen Dot in sixty-two years. Is Dot even still alive? Mabel decides to find Dot and add a few items to the list. Moving forward, she meets a group of women who are all in different stages of their lives. They become amazing friends and want to help Mabel find Dot. Mabel slowly finds herself opening up and not as lonely anymore. Secrets from the past are revealed as the search for Dot continues. Will Mabel find Dot? Will she have the courage to change and find happiness again? Charming, warm and moving… A beautifully written story about love and longing, and a poignant reminder that it’s never too late to follow your heart.’ Holly Miller Arthur took seriously his job of taking care of her. Soon after his funeral, a home health aide appears at her door. Arthur had pre-paid for the service, to help her adjust to his death. In return, when Mabel strives to ‘help’ her new friends by interfering in their lives, she comes close to jeopardizing her newfound friendships. They all have aspects of their lives which they wish to keep to themselves, as does Mabel. Everyone of them has secrets… Now that I have got that off my chest, we can proceed. I liked, but didn't love The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, just as I liked but didn't love Mabel herself. And the getting to like her took a while . . .

But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he's still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: 'Find D'.Wow. Seriously. Just beautiful. So many wonderful elements... Such a unique angle... So many memorable characters... Beautiful and utterly affecting.' Louise Beech, author It seems impossible. She doesn’t even know if Dot’s still alive. Also, every person Mabel talks to seems to need help first, with missing husbands, daughters, parents. Mabel finds her list is just getting longer, and she’s still no closer to finding Dot. Well, I finished this in the same 24 hours as I started it. Oh... what a beautiful story... Poignant and inspiring!' Jennie Godfrey, author Wow. Seriously. Just beautiful. So many wonderful elements… So many memorable characters… Beautiful and utterly affecting.’ Louise Beech